Guides · Photography · last checked 10 July 2026
15 best photography spots in the Andaman Islands
From Radhanagar's crowded-for-a-reason sunset to tide pools nobody photographs at dawn, the Andamans reward anyone who plans their days around the light. Here are the spots we send photographers to — sunset, sunrise, underwater and the strange ones — with the timing and settings that actually matter.
Sunset spots
Five west-facing locations where the golden hour earns its name.
Radhanagar Beach
Havelock Island · 4:30–6:00 PM
The most photographed sunset in the islands. A wide, uninterrupted western horizon turns orange, pink and purple most evenings, with palm and beachgoer silhouettes doing the composition work for you.
Tip: Arrive early and work the southern end of the beach, where the tree line gives natural framing.
Laxmanpur Beach
Neil Island · 5:00–6:00 PM
The Natural Bridge in golden light is one of the Andamans' most distinctive frames — coral rock silhouettes and strong leading lines.
Tip: Shoot at low tide: the exposed coral shelf is the foreground texture that makes the shot.
Chidiya Tapu
Port Blair · 4:30–5:30 PM
The islands' designated sunset point at the southern tip of South Andaman — layered forest, rocky shoreline and open sea in one scene.
Tip: Hike to the viewpoint for elevated frames that hold both the canopy and the water.
Corbyn's Cove
Port Blair · 5:00–6:00 PM
Palm-fringed shoreline with fishing boats and gentle surf — the leaning coconut palms are ready-made natural frames.
Tip: Let the palm trunks lead the eye toward the setting sun.
Kalapathar Beach
Havelock Island · 5:00–6:00 PM
Black rock formations against turquoise water and white sand. Golden hour turns the dark rocks amber — a warm-cool contrast you don't get elsewhere.
Tip: Get low: the rock textures carry the frame from a low angle.
Sunrise spots
The east-coast morning shift — quieter, softer, and usually all yours.
Sitapur Beach
Neil Island · 5:00–6:00 AM
Neil's east coast meets the dawn with limestone formations and tide pools that mirror the sky — the most rugged beach terrain in the islands.
Tip: Work the rock-pool reflections in the minutes either side of sunrise.
Vijaynagar Beach
Havelock Island · 5:30–6:30 AM
A long, empty stretch of white sand in first light — minimalist, undisturbed, quietly beautiful.
Tip: Be first on the beach; a single line of footprints is the composition.
Marina Park Beach
Port Blair · 5:30–6:30 AM
Calm harbour water reflecting the dawn over anchored fishing boats — island working life in one frame.
Tip: A longer focal length compresses the boats against the sunrise.
Mount Harriet
Port Blair · 5:00–6:00 AM
The highest point in South Andaman at 365 metres — sweeping panoramas over Port Blair, the islands and open sea.
Tip: Bring the wide-angle; this is the one true panorama spot.
Underwater spots
Elephant Beach, Havelock
GoPro & action cameras · 2–5 m
Shallow reefs full of colourful fish — the most accessible underwater photography in the islands. Snorkelling is enough; no certification needed.
North Bay Island
Sea-walking photos · shallow
Clear shallow water over coral, with sea walking for unique ocean-floor shots and glass-bottom boats for dry angles.
Havelock dive sites
Professional dive photography
Dive centres run dedicated photo and video packages (indicatively ₹1,000–2,000 extra) — turtles, rays, reef walls, and guides who know where the photogenic residents live.
Jolly Buoy Island
Pristine protected reef
The most protected coral in the islands, with strictly limited daily visitors — which is exactly why the visibility and reef health are the archipelago's best.
The unusual ones
Natural Bridge, Neil Island
A coral-rock arch sculpted by centuries of waves at the edge of Laxmanpur Beach. Low tide is essential — for the shot and for safe access.
Tip: Shoot from below to give the arch scale against the sky.
Ross Island ruins
A colonial church and administration buildings being slowly swallowed by banyan roots — moody, cinematic, faintly unreal.
Tip: Early morning gives soft, diffused light through the ruins.
Bioluminescence, Havelock
Glowing plankton on moonless nights, roughly November to February — the hardest and most rewarding subject in the islands.
Tip: Tripod, 15–30 s exposure, ISO 3200–6400, f/2.8 or wider. Moonless nights only.
Cellular Jail, Port Blair
The radial prison architecture gives strong geometry and heavy storytelling weight — a different kind of photograph from everything else here.
Tip: Golden hour warms the brick; the Light & Sound Show makes dramatic night frames.
Eight tips that save trips
- 1Golden hour runs roughly 5:00–6:00 AM and 4:30–6:00 PM — the islands' best light lives in those two windows.
- 2Waterproof everything. Salt spray and humidity quietly kill gear even if you never swim.
- 3Pack a polarising filter — it cuts water glare and deepens the blues that brought you here.
- 4For underwater, a GoPro (or any housed action camera) is the sane starting point.
- 5Drones need care: register with the DGCA and check current local rules — reserves, airports and military zones are strict no-fly areas.
- 6A mini tripod earns its space: bioluminescence, star fields and the Light & Sound Show all need long exposures.
- 7Back up photos every evening — humid salt air is hard on memory cards.
- 8October to February is the photography season: clear skies, calm seas, soft light, and the bioluminescence window.
Gear worth bringing
Camera
A mirrorless or DSLR gives the most control, but a recent smartphone genuinely covers most of these spots well. Bring what you'll actually carry.
Lenses
Wide-angle (16–35mm) for beaches and panoramas, a 50mm prime for portraits against the water, and a macro if coral detail interests you.
Underwater
A GoPro is the popular choice; Havelock dive shops rent housings for larger cameras and offer camera add-ons on dive packages.
Accessories
Polariser, mini tripod, dry bag for boat transfers, spare batteries (humidity drains them faster) and a microfibre cloth for constant salt-spray wiping.
Photography questions we get asked
What is the best spot for sunset photos in Andaman?
Radhanagar Beach on Havelock — a wide beach, a clean horizon and palm silhouettes deliver most evenings. Arrive by 4:30 PM in season and work the southern end, where the tree line frames the shot naturally.
Can I do underwater photography without diving?
Yes. Snorkelling at Elephant Beach or North Bay with a GoPro or any waterproof action camera works well, and sea walking at North Bay gets you ocean-floor shots without swimming at all. For deeper marine life, Havelock dive centres offer photo packages — indicatively ₹1,000–2,000 on top of the dive.
Are drones allowed in Andaman?
The rules change often. Small recreational drones are generally tolerated in the main tourist areas, but tribal reserves, airports and military zones are strict no-fly areas. Register with the DGCA and confirm current local rules before flying — we can tell you the latest position when you plan your trip.
What is the best camera for an Andaman trip?
For most travellers, a good smartphone is honestly enough. Enthusiasts do best with a mirrorless body and a wide-angle lens; for underwater, a GoPro is the standard. Whatever you bring, protect it from salt spray and humidity.
When is the best time for photography in Andaman?
November to February: clear skies, calm turquoise water, gentle light and the bioluminescence season. March to May works but runs hot. The monsoon months (roughly June to September) are the hardest — overcast skies and rough seas cut your options down badly.
How do you photograph bioluminescence in Andaman?
Manual mode on a tripod: ISO 3200–6400, f/2.8 or wider, 15–30 second exposures, on moonless nights between November and February at Havelock. Phones mostly can't capture it — the sensors aren't sensitive enough. Our bioluminescence guide covers the new-moon calendar.
How this page stays true
Ported from our long-running photography guide and re-checked 10 July 2026. The photos on this page are our own, shot in the islands. Drone rules and dive-package prices change — treat those as the recent pattern and ask us for the current position when you plan.
Build the trip around the light.
Tell us your dates and we'll sequence the islands so you're west-facing at sunset and east-facing at dawn — and if you want a couple photoshoot arranged, our honeymoon packages include one.